Watching a show solo: a new concept

Attending shows has always been a social event that draws in fans from all over to share an experience. It brings a collective group of people together, creating a great atmosphere shared with people of similar music interests.

But what if none of your friends enjoy the same style of music as you? What do you do? Most people would understandably just decide to skip the show, never even giving a thought to the idea of going alone. Â

The first time I attended a show alone, I went to see mewithoutYou and Foxing at The Roxy in Los Angeles. I had recently moved out there alone for the summer, and didn’t have a friend to attend the show with. I felt uncomfortable at first, fearing that people would think I was weird for not going with anybody else.

Nervousness aside, I walked into the venue and soon realized that there were tons of people at the show who were also alone. It made me feel better about my situation, and I was able to let go of my hesitation. I began to enjoy myself and embraced the opportunity to really connect with the music and my surroundings. Without distractions, I had the chance to appreciate the performance and focus solely on the band and their music.

That night, those two bands put on one of the best shows I have ever seen, and I’ve seen more shows than I could count. If I hadn’t attended the show that night because I didn’t have someone to go with, I would have missed out on an incredible experience. After that night, I felt confident enough to go to shows alone, and ended up going by myself to three more shows that same week.

Looking back, I realize that I was put into a new situation and was forced to adjust to my surroundings. At first, I felt extremely overwhelmed by the amount of people in the small venue, given it was almost at full capacity. As time went on, though, my overwhelming emotions dwindled down and I began to feel this new sense of confidence and liberation.

After a little while of getting accustomed to my surroundings, I noticed that I began to feel less reliant on others and I was enjoying myself enough at the show, even if I didn’t have anyone to share it with. I would strike up conversations with other people around me, and I learned about new bands and upcoming shows in the area. These concerts gave me the confidence to be able to talk to a random person in the crowd, and in a way, I was able to network myself by making new connections.

Since returning to Rhode Island, my mindset on shows has changed drastically. I still love going to concerts with my friends, but I am more willing to experience things on my own. If an opportunity arises, I am not going to miss out just because I would have to be alone.